By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

NILES

Given the recent history of the series, there was every reason to believe Friday’s All-American Conference game between Canfield and Niles would provide plenty of fireworks.

From 2013-15, the Cardinals and Red Dragons combined to score 273 points in three meetings — an average of 91 points per contest.

Friday’s game certainly began with a bang, as it took the two teams just six plays from scrimmage to score 21 points.

However, the grand finale belonged solely to Canfield.

The Cardinals scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including nine in the final 1:16 to rally for an improbable 23-21 road win at Bo Rein Stadium.

“I’m just proud of our guys because they played to the end,” Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said. “That’s the one thing we ask of them. We preach to them to keep playing.

“When you play hard for 48 minutes, something good is going to happen.”

Trailing 21-7 entering the fourth quarter and without starting quarterback Jake Cummings who left the game with an injury, Canfield scored three times in the final 4:41 to lift its record to 5-2.

The Cardinals began their comeback when Vinnie Fiorenza connected with Angelo Petracci on a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Niles was unable to move on the ensuing possession. Following a Red Dragons punt, Canfield took possession at their own 30 with 1:54 left in the game and without the benefit of timeouts.

The Cardinals eventually reached the 50, and on a fourth-and-4 play, Fiorenza rushed 50 yards up the middle to paydirt, cutting the Red Dragons’ lead to 21-20 at the 1:16 mark.

“Execution, it was all about the guys up front doing their job and Vinnie making the play,” Pavlansky said. “The big runs he was making, those were read options. He’s a smart kid and a quality quarterback.”

Following Fiorenza’s touchdown, Canfield elected to go for two, but was unsuccessful. However, the Cardinals executed a well-run onside kick, which was recovered by Dom Gelonese.

“We’re like every other team, that’s something we practice for every week and tonight it worked out for us,” Pavlansky said. “Our kickoff team, starting with [kicker] Sammy [Accordino] did everything right on that play.”

Following the recovery of the onside kick, a 34-yard pass from Fiorenza to Matt Zaremski put the Cardinals in position to win it on an Accordino 25-yard field goal attempt.

Accordino’s kick with eight seconds left on the clock was spot-on.

“We had our opportunities to put this game away so many times, but we continue to struggle to do that,” Niles coach Brian Shaner.

Niles (3-5) scored the game’s first points on the first play from scrimmage — a Robbie Savin 55-yard run. Canfield answered on its third offensive play of the game on a Cummings 43-yard run.

Niles needed just two plays on its second possession before Tyler Srbinovich connected with Tre Martin on an 81-yard touchdown reception. Srbinovich finished with 234 passing yards, while Martin pulled in five receptions for 156 yards.

Fiorenza carried the ball just six times, but rushed for 113 yards. He also completed six of seven passes for 71 yards.